Dean Cameron, director of the Idaho Department of Insurance, has recommended that lawmakers establish a task force to examine critical healthcare challenges in the state ahead of the 2027 legislative session. The proposal comes as legislators continue to study the health insurance system following the conclusion of the current interim period.
Cameron, who served in the Legislature for 25 years before taking his current role, suggested reviving a previous process used to address complex regulatory issues. A prior task force met throughout the summer to review healthcare matters, and Cameron indicated that similar scrutiny may be necessary moving forward.
“It might be time to consider dusting that process off,” Cameron said.
Insurer Complaints and Network Disputes
The department has seen a rise in consumer complaints against health insurers, particularly involving denied claims, pharmacy benefits, and plan cancellations. Regence BlueShield of Idaho assumed the state contract for employee health insurance in 2024. In 2025, the insurer faced 217 complaints, with external reviewers overturning just under a third of those cases.
Network adequacy has also been a point of contention. Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello fell out of network for Regence members after contract negotiations stalled. The hospital and insurer reached an agreement last month to restore in-network status. Nate Carter, CEO of Portneuf Medical Center, addressed the legislative committee on Tuesday regarding the resolution.
Another billing dispute involves Post Falls ER and Hospital, which remains out-of-network for many health insurers. The facility is engaged in a disagreement with Blue Cross over Independent Dispute Resolution procedures.
PBM Enforcement and Trust Fund Concerns
Legislators passed legislation in 2024 to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Since that time, the Idaho Department of Insurance has levied nearly $400,000 in fines against PBMs for compliance violations. Additionally, the state banned coverage for prescription weight-loss medication in late 2025.
A significant concern involves the Idaho School Benefit Trust, which appears to be running out of money to pay health insurance claims for public school employees. In late August, the Department of Insurance petitioned a state court to take over the trust. Cameron stated that an investigation into the trust’s finances should provide answers within the next couple of months, before the legislative session begins.
Local governments have also felt the pressure of rising health costs. Shoshone County recently approved a budget that absorbed a surge in health care expenses alongside a modest tax increase.
Legislative Oversight and Medicaid Shift
Sen. Kevin Cook, R-Idaho Falls, questioned the necessity of convening a summer healthcare committee, noting his own work on an interim panel overseeing the state’s shift to privatized Medicaid. Cook sponsored a successful bill to restore mental health benefits that had been cut by a contractor.
“I don’t see any reason why a provider should be calling a legislator and saying ‘I’m not getting paid,’ or ‘My reimbursement is nine months late,'” Cook said, highlighting delays in payments to some providers.
The department’s findings and the potential task force recommendations will inform policy decisions when lawmakers reconvene. The focus remains on stabilizing insurer networks, enforcing PBM regulations, and addressing the financial strain on public sector health funds.